VE Day: Honouring Greater Manchester’s WWII Heroes

On VE Day, we remember. Not just the victory, the street parties, the headlines — but the people. The ones who left these streets to fight a war far from home. The ones who kept the factories running. The ones who didn’t make it back.

Greater Manchester has no shortage of quiet heroes. Ordinary names. Extraordinary courage.

Here are just a few we honour today.

Marine James Conway (1922–1943) – Stockport’s Cockleshell Hero

Born in Stockport in 1922, James Conway was just 20 years old when he took part in one of the war’s most daring missions: Operation Frankton. Known as one of the “Cockleshell Heroes,” Conway and a handful of fellow Royal Marine Commandos paddled canoes 70 miles up the Gironde River in Nazi-occupied France, aiming to sabotage German ships docked in Bordeaux.

It was a mission with little chance of return. Conway was captured and executed, never making it home to Stockport. But his bravery crippled Nazi supply lines and inspired generations. Today, a statue of Conway stands in Stockport town centre — a lasting tribute to a young man who gave everything.

William ‘Bill’ Speakman VC (1927–2018) – Altrincham’s Fearless Fighter

William Speakman was born in Altrincham in 1927. He enlisted in 1945, serving towards the end of World War II. His most famous moment came a few years later, in the Korean War, where he held off enemy forces for over four hours, hurling more than 60 grenades to buy time for his comrades.

For this, Speakman was awarded the Victoria Cross — the first ever presented by Queen Elizabeth II. Though he’s most known for his actions in Korea, his military journey began in the final days of WWII. A lad from Trafford who became a legend.

David Teacher MBE (1923–2024) – Salford’s Lifelong Servant

Born in Hastings in 1923, David Teacher later made Salford his home. At just 20 years old, he landed on Juno Beach on D-Day as an RAF mechanic, working under fire to keep vehicles and equipment running. He spent three months in a trench repairing vital machinery as the Allied forces pushed through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

After the war, Teacher dedicated his life to educating young people about the Holocaust and the lessons of WWII. In 2012, he was awarded an MBE for his efforts. He passed away in Salford’s Broughton House veterans’ home in May 2024, aged 100 — a man who never stopped serving.

Rifleman John Beeley VC (1918–1941) – Manchester’s Brave Soldier

John Beeley was born in Manchester in 1918 and served with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. In November 1941, during fighting at Sidi Rezegh in Libya, Beeley’s platoon was pinned down by enemy fire. Without hesitation, he charged across open ground under intense fire, silencing enemy guns and helping his unit capture a crucial position.

Beeley was killed in action that day, but his courage earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross. Beeley Street in Openshaw bears his name — a small marker of a hero who gave his life far from home.

Alan Turing (1912–1954) – Wilmslow and Manchester’s Codebreaker

Though born in London, Alan Turing’s postwar years were spent in Wilmslow and at the University of Manchester. During the war, Turing was instrumental in breaking the Nazi Enigma code at Bletchley Park, an achievement credited with shortening the war by years and saving millions of lives.

After the war, Turing pioneered early computing, laying the foundations for the digital world we know today. His story is one of brilliance, injustice, and an enduring legacy. In Manchester’s Sackville Gardens, a statue of Turing sits quietly, a tribute to a man whose work changed the world.

Dougie Farrington (1925–2017) – Oldham’s Frontline Fighter

Born in Miles Platting in 1925, later living in Chadderton, Dougie Farrington joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers at just 17. As a machine gunner, he fought in Normandy, Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge.

For his bravery, Farrington was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government. A quiet hero, whose courage stretched from the streets of Manchester to the battlefields of Europe.

Tony Johnson (b. 1919) – Worsley’s D-Day Veteran

Tony Johnson was born in Monton, Eccles, in 1919, later settling in Worsley. He landed at Gold Beach during the D-Day landings in June 1944, playing his part in the liberation of France. For his service, Tony was awarded the French Legion of Honour in 2020. In 2024, he celebrated his 105th birthday — a living link to a history we must never forget.

Oldham Munitions Workers – The Women Who Kept the War Going

During World War II, Oldham’s mills and factories transformed into hubs of wartime production. Places once known for cotton and textiles were turned over to making shells, bombs, and aircraft parts.

Thousands of local women stepped into roles they’d never imagined — working long shifts in dangerous conditions, handling explosive materials, and facing daily risks from accidents and air raids. Known as “munitionettes,” these women kept the supply lines moving while raising families and holding their communities together.

Their courage wasn’t shown in medals or headlines, but in quiet, tireless determination. Without them, the war effort would have stalled. Their story is one of resilience, skill, and unshakable commitment — a vital chapter in Oldham’s proud history.

Harry Goslin (1909–1943) – Bolton’s Football Captain at War

Harry Goslin, captain of Bolton Wanderers, famously led his teammates in enlisting with the 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment in 1939. The team became known as the “Wartime Wanderers,” swapping the pitch for the battlefield, playing matches in military kit between deployments.

Harry fought in France, North Africa, and Italy before being killed in action in 1943. He remains a symbol of leadership, courage, and community spirit — a footballer who led from the front, whose name still echoes in Bolton’s history.

Nearly one in four men from Greater Manchester served in World War II.

And to the thousands from Greater Manchester, men and women, who served, fought, and died both at home and overseas — their names carved into stone, their stories carried in families and communities — we remember them.

Their courage shaped the world we live in.

Their stories deserve to be told, remembered and celebrated.